“Uh… Amilta-sama? Right now, His Majesty the Demon King is in the middle of official duties…!”
The beautiful demon attendant rushed to Amilta, reaching out her hand, but it slipped right through as if slicked with soap, and Amilta dove toward the Demon King.
“Daddy!”
“Hmm, Amilta-chan!!!”
As the Demon King stood up from his throne, he caught her in a big embrace.
…Wait, was the “Daddy” that Amilta mentioned referring to the Demon King?
I thought she might be a relative of someone connected to the Demon King’s castle, but…
I never expected she was the Demon King’s own daughter.
I can’t help but wonder if it’s really okay for her to be so free.
“Mmm, Amilta-chan, are you bored playing outside?”
While kissing Amilta’s soft cheeks, the Demon King asked.
The intellectual and strict demeanor of His Majesty the Demon King was nowhere to be found.
What stood there was just a doting father, Rumak Ouglon.
“Look, look! Mior’s bad part got better!”
“Oh, really? Mior’s bad part got better—huh!?”
The Demon King Rumak gazed intently at Mior’s abdomen.
The tumor that should have been there just ten minutes ago had completely vanished.
…Good, it seems to have properly healed.
Of course, I had no worries.
The procedure I performed was flawless, so it was an obvious result.
However, seeing the healed area like this still brings a sense of relief.
“Oh, it’s Kiwi-sensei!”
Amilta pointed at me.
It seems I was being called “sensei” without me realizing it… Well, that’s fine too.
I was called that back when I was running the clinic.
“Hey, Daddy, that Kiwi-sensei healed Mior!”
“Ah, so it was Lord Araya… I see, you met in the courtyard with the guest room?”
Rumak pulled Amilta closer to him and gave me a slight nod.
“It seems my daughter and Mior have caused you quite a bit of trouble, and I apologize.”
“No, not at all. In fact, it was a very valuable experience for me to be able to examine Mior-kun.”
It sounded like polite conversation, but it was heartfelt.
The know-how I gained from interacting with new monsters would become a lasting asset in my life.
“By the way, it’s quite impressive that you managed to heal Mior’s tumor… Even renowned dark healers couldn’t achieve that.”
“Actually, I run a clinic specializing in monsters in the royal capital, so I’m quite used to handling them.”
“Oh, really? A monster specialist? How rare!”
“Is that… so?”
I was surprised that he found that so astonishing.
Considering this was a demon country, I thought pet clinics would be much more advanced than in human kingdoms.
“There are hardly any demon clans that keep monsters around. If there are, they’re either livestock farmers or wealthy high-ranking demons. Those kinds of demons have their own dark healers, so they have them examined instead.”
“I see…”
Indeed, even in the kingdom, the history of specialized pet clinics is still quite short.
I had never heard of another monster-specialized clinic besides mine.
If that’s the case… it’s understandable that I’m considered quite a rarity.
“In any case, I am very grateful, Lord Araya… And thanks to you healing Mior, it’s clear that you are an excellent dark healer.”
With that, the Demon King dramatically fluttered his cape.
He stood tall, surveying the officials around him.
“Listen. This person—Lord Kiwi Alaya—is a renowned dark healer who has achieved what no other dark healers in the Demon Kingdom have been able to accomplish. I believe that accepting him as a refugee in our nation will bring tremendous benefit to our country.”
Saying that, he then turned to look at the old demon with a monkey-like face, who had just been called “Hihi-ji.”
“Indeed, Alaya’s excellence does not prove that he is not a spy. However, as Agito mentioned earlier, that would lead to a debate of no consequence. Therefore, what we should do is choose a course of action that repays Alaya’s kindness while also benefiting the country… What do you think?”
“…I agree.”
Hihi-ji deeply bowed his head to the Demon King.
The other officials followed suit.
“Then, in the name of Demon King Rumak Ouglon, I hereby officially declare: Lord Kiwi Alaya is recognized as a refugee to the Demon Kingdom Ouglon!”
At the Demon King’s declaration, I also bowed my head deeply.
“Thank you very much, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm, good. Raise your face. From today onward, Lord Alaya, despite being of a different race, is our comrade.”
I lifted my head.
Then, at the feet of the Demon King…
I caught sight of Amilta, who winked at me.
…Could it be that Amilta jumped in here to help me be accepted?
“Well then, Lord Alaya. Regarding your residence from now on, I would like you to use the guest room in the Demon Castle for the time being. Soon, I will send you a ‘familiar’ who will assist you in your new life. If you have any concerns, feel free to ask that person anything.”
“…Yes! Thank you very much.”
I returned my gaze to the Demon King and bowed my head again.
“We will also discuss and decide on your specific treatment with the other officials. There may be times when I will ask for your help with some tasks; would that be acceptable?”
“Of course. In order to repay the kindness I received from Your Majesty, I will strive to earn the trust of everyone else through my actual work.”
“Very well. Then for today, you may withdraw.”
The guiding demon gestured for me to follow him, saying, “This way.”
I complied and passed through the same door I entered the throne room from.
As I turned to bow my head one last time, Rumak wore a meaningful smile on his throne, his cobalt-blue eyes gazing at me as if he could see right through me.
